--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There are roads which must not be…" description: "\"“There are roads which must not be followed, armies which must be not attacked, towns which must not be besieged, positions which must not be contested..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba9/sun-tzu-283_army_there-are-roads-which-must-not-be-follow_1618443.jpg" --- # There are roads which must not be followed, armies which… ![“There are roads which must not be followed, armies which must be not attacked, towns which must not be besieged, positions which must not be contested, commands of the sovereign which must not be obeyed.” quote by Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba9/sun-tzu-283_army_there-are-roads-which-must-not-be-follow_1618443.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba9/sun-tzu-283_army_there-are-roads-which-must-not-be-follow_1618443.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba9/sun-tzu-283_army_there-are-roads-which-must-not-be-follow_1618443.jpg) > ““There are roads which must not be followed, armies which must be not attacked, towns which must not be besieged, positions which must not be contested, commands of the sovereign which must not be obeyed.”” [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Some strategies are forbidden; obeying certain orders can be detrimental to success. **In simple terms:** Not all commands should be followed. Key Takeaway Question authority when it harms the mission. Themes strategy authority war ethics Mood cautious reflective Type advisory strategic When to use this quote - leadership decisions - political negotiations - military planning Key Concepts military doctrine critical thinking Questions to Reflect On - When should you defy a superior? - What risks arise from following every order? A Different Perspective Blind obedience can cause failure. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Army](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/army/) [Journey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journey/) [Sovereign](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sovereign/) [Strategy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strategy/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [Thus we may know that there are five essentials for victory: He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/thus-we-may-know-that-there-are-five-essentials-for-victory-he-will/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [The sovereign must have full knowledge of the activities of the five sorts of agents. This knowledge must come from the double agents, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/the-sovereign-must-have-full-knowledge-of-the-activities-of-the-five/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [If your enemy is secure at all points, be prepared for him. If he is in superior strength, evade him. If your opponent is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/if-your-enemy-is-secure-at-all-points-be-prepared-for-him-if-he-is-in/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [The General who in advancing does not seek personal fame, and in withdrawing is not concerned with avoiding punishment, but whose only purpose is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/the-general-who-in-advancing-does-not-seek-personal-fame-and-in/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [The general who advances without coveting fame and retreats without fearing disgrace, whose only thought is to protect his country and do good service…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/the-general-who-advances-without-coveting-fame-and-retreats-without/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [There are many roads to journalism. My feeling is that your best bet in college is to study the subjects you will want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serge-schmemann/there-are-many-roads-to-journalism-my-feeling-is-that-your-best-bet/) [Serge Schmemann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serge-schmemann/) > [The business is my life, the ring my salvation, the locker room and roads my nourishment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dusty-rhodes/the-business-is-my-life-the-ring-my-salvation-the-locker-room-and/) [Dusty Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dusty-rhodes/) > [India's infrastructure deficit in terms of roads, railways, power, and ports needs to be addressed on a fast-track basis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piyush-goyal/india-s-infrastructure-deficit-in-terms-of-roads-railways-power-and/) [Piyush Goyal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piyush-goyal/) > [All great roads are paved with uncomfortable memories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-neftzger/all-great-roads-are-paved-with-uncomfortable-memories/) [Amy Neftzger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-neftzger/) > [Without land, how can you have development of roads, highways, townships, etc?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kushal-pal-singh/without-land-how-can-you-have-development-of-roads-highways-townships/) [Kushal Pal Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kushal-pal-singh/) > [America faces a mounting transportation crisis, and the primary culprit is road congestion. Traffic makes us unhealthy, wastes enormous amounts of time, and cripples…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-lonsdale/america-faces-a-mounting-transportation-crisis-and-the-primary/) [Joe Lonsdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-lonsdale/) > [Roads of infinity had a stop sign](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-dash/roads-of-infinity-had-a-stop-sign/) C-DASH > [The TT is a very precious thing to the riders. These guys that do the roads are very unique people. On the first hand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-flint/the-tt-is-a-very-precious-thing-to-the-riders-these-guys-that-do-the/) [Keith Flint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-flint/) > [“Dead-end roads don't mean you've come to your end, just means you need to take a different detour.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-liccione/dead-end-roads-don-t-mean-you-ve-come-to-your-end-just-means-you-need/) [Anthony Liccione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-liccione/) > [“The hardest roads are often empty; the darkest paths are mostly silent; toughest destinations are almost peopleless! No easy road brings you great victory!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/the-hardest-roads-are-often-empty-the-darkest-paths-are-mostly-silent/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) ## More by Sun Tzu > [It is the rule in war, if our forces are ten to the enemy's one, to surround him; if five to one, to attack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/it-is-the-rule-in-war-if-our-forces-are-ten-to-the-enemy-s-one-to/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [It is according to the shapes that I lay the plans for victory, but the multitude does not comprehend this. Although everyone can see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/it-is-according-to-the-shapes-that-i-lay-the-plans-for-victory-but/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [Go into emptiness, strike voids, bypass what he defends hit him where he does not expect you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/go-into-emptiness-strike-voids-bypass-what-he-defends-hit-him-where/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [“In a similar way, The Art of War pinpoints anger and greed as fundamental causes of defeat.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/in-a-similar-way-the-art-of-war-pinpoints-anger-and-greed-as/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [“The PEOPLE being regarded as the essential part of the State, and FOOD as the people's heaven, is it not right that those in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/the-people-being-regarded-as-the-essential-part-of-the-state-and-food/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [Therefore the good fighter will be terrible in his onset, and prompt in his decision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/therefore-the-good-fighter-will-be-terrible-in-his-onset-and-prompt/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [The enemy's spies who have come to spy on us must be sought out, tempted with bribes, led away and comfortably housed. Thus they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/the-enemy-s-spies-who-have-come-to-spy-on-us-must-be-sought-out/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [“So long as victory can be attained,  stupid haste is preferable to clever dilatoriness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/so-long-as-victory-can-be-attained-stupid-haste-is-preferable-to/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [“You can ensure the safety of your defense if you only hold positions that cannot be attacked.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/you-can-ensure-the-safety-of-your-defense-if-you-only-hold-positions/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [“Hence, when able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must seem inactive; when we are near, we must make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/hence-when-able-to-attack-we-must-seem-unable-when-using-our-forces/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [If we do not wish to fight, we can prevent the enemy from engaging us even though the lines of our encampment be merely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/if-we-do-not-wish-to-fight-we-can-prevent-the-enemy-from-engaging-us/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [“The general who wins a battle makes many calculations in his temple before the battle is fought. The general who loses a battle makes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/the-general-who-wins-a-battle-makes-many-calculations-in-his-temple/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [In all fighting, the direct method may be used for joining battle, but indirect methods will be needed in order to secure victory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/in-all-fighting-the-direct-method-may-be-used-for-joining-battle-but/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [“To begin by bluster, but afterwards to take fright at the enemy's numbers, shows a supreme lack of intelligence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/to-begin-by-bluster-but-afterwards-to-take-fright-at-the-enemy-s/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [ They \[spies\] cannot be properly managed without benevolence and straightforwardness. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/they-spies-cannot-be-properly-managed-without-benevolence-and/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) [Explore all 685 Sun Tzu quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) ## More Army quotes > [There are no more worlds to conquer!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/there-are-no-more-worlds-to-conquer/) [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) > [Every army in the history of the world has always had some deserters, usually much greater than we have today, because once again every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-hilferty/every-army-in-the-history-of-the-world-has-always-had-some-deserters/) [Bryan Hilferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-hilferty/) > [It is the rule in war, if our forces are ten to the enemy's one, to surround him; if five to one, to attack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/it-is-the-rule-in-war-if-our-forces-are-ten-to-the-enemy-s-one-to/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [The surprise of an army is now next to an impossibility. ... Prearranged surprises are rare and difficult because in order to plan one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-henri-jomini/the-surprise-of-an-army-is-now-next-to-an-impossibility-prearranged/) [Antoine-Henri Jomini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-henri-jomini/) > [I just read an article about how young American males feel uncomfortable appearing naked in front of each other in locker rooms. That was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-ivory/i-just-read-an-article-about-how-young-american-males-feel/) [James Ivory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ivory/) > [ I can't imagine that I would be asked that by the president-elect \[Donald Trump\], or then-president \[Barack Obama\]. But it's - I'm very clear.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/i-can-t-imagine-that-i-would-be-asked-that-by-the-president-elect/) [James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/) > [Holy shadows of the dead, I'm not to blame for your cruel and bitter fate, but the accursed rivalry which brought sister nations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/holy-shadows-of-the-dead-i-m-not-to-blame-for-your-cruel-and-bitter/) [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) > [“The most important lesson that came out of Vietnam for me was that Marines take care of Marines.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-clancy/the-most-important-lesson-that-came-out-of-vietnam-for-me-was-that/) [Tom Clancy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-clancy/) > [One of our great allies at present is the Church itself. Do not misunderstand me. I do not mean the Church as we see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/one-of-our-great-allies-at-present-is-the-church-itself-do-not/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [I have real strong feelings about our troops and support them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-fichtner/i-have-real-strong-feelings-about-our-troops-and-support-them/) [William Fichtner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-fichtner/) > [Personally, I don't really have a set style or look. It's pretty much what I feel like wearing that day, from a floral-print dress…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shay-mitchell/personally-i-don-t-really-have-a-set-style-or-look-it-s-pretty-much/) [Shay Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shay-mitchell/) > [Growing up with a parent in the army, I saw firsthand the challenges our service members face when transitioning to new jobs after time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharice-davids/growing-up-with-a-parent-in-the-army-i-saw-firsthand-the-challenges/) [Sharice Davids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharice-davids/) > [Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-prescott/don-t-fire-until-you-see-the-whites-of-their-eyes/) [William H. Prescott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-prescott/) > [Thanks to all members of the military around the world for giving me the ultimate motivation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalya-neidhart/thanks-to-all-members-of-the-military-around-the-world-for-giving-me/) [Natalya Neidhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalya-neidhart/) [Browse all 3,919 Army quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/army/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“There are roads which must not be followed, armies which must be not attacked, towns which must not be besieged, positions which must not be contested, commands of the sovereign which must not be obeyed.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sun Tzu" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/there-are-roads-which-must-not-be-followed-armies-which-must-be-not/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Army" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/there-are-roads-which-must-not-be-followed-armies-which-must-be-not/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba9/sun-tzu-283_army_there-are-roads-which-must-not-be-follow_1618443.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba9/sun-tzu-283_army_there-are-roads-which-must-not-be-follow_1618443.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba9/sun-tzu-283_army_there-are-roads-which-must-not-be-follow_1618443.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There are roads which must not be followed, armies which must be not attacked, towns which must not be…” — Sun Tzu", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Sun Tzu", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“There are roads which must not...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/there-are-roads-which-must-not-be-followed-armies-which-must-be-not/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/there-are-roads-which-must-not-be-followed-armies-which-must-be-not/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```